Liberalism

L. T. Hobhouse’s *Liberalism* is not merely a historical survey but a foundational text for what he termed "liberal socialism." Hobhouse meticulously dissects the concept of freedom, asserting it extends beyond mere governmental non-interference to encompass liberation from all forms of coercion, especially economic. He argues that true individual flourishing, the bedrock of liberalism, necessitates a societal structure where no one's liberty is curtailed by another's, placing the onus on the state to actively ensure this balance. This isn't a call for state overreach, but for a proactive government safeguarding the conditions for genuine self-development for all citizens.